India Expands Pharma Global Capability Centres, Driving Innovation and Jobs

India has emerged as a crucial hub for the global pharmaceutical industry, as it faces a $236 billion patent cliff between 2025 and 2030, with nearly 70 blockbuster drugs set to lose exclusivity. The country now hosts over 55 pharma and life sciences Global Capability Centres (GCCs), spread across ~95 locations in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, expected to generate around 300,000 jobs. These centres are shifting focus from routine back-office tasks to innovation, research, and drug development.

Talent and Scale Advantage

India’s large pool of scientific, medical, and digital talent, over 2.7 million life sciences professionals and more than 2 million STEM graduates annually, gives it unmatched global relevance. “India combines three strengths that are rare to find in one location: sheer scale, talent, and impact,” said John Dawber, Corporate VP & MD of Global Business Services at Novo Nordisk.

Moving Up the Value Chain

Already recognised as the “pharmacy of the world” for its affordable medicine manufacturing, India must now move up the value chain to establish itself as a true pharmaceutical powerhouse. Pharma GCCs are becoming critical to this journey, evolving from support centres into hubs of advanced R&D and innovation, strengthening India’s global positioning in life sciences.